2020 RB One To Watch
It’s still very early in AJ Henning’s recruiting process, but it’s also quite clear the 2020 Illinois running back is going to be a prospect many schools are chasing before it’s over.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pounder from Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Ill., only attended one college camp this summer, but he obviously made an impression, scoring an offer from Illinois shortly afterward.
“It felt great,” Henning said of landing his first scholarship offer.
“After the camp, I felt really good. It was a couple days after the camp when they called me and told me they were giving me an offer.”
Henning said he did good overall and it certainly didn’t hurt that he clocked a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash. Speed is clearly one of his biggest strengths, but not his only one.
“Speed, definitely vision, following my blocks, seeing which holes to choose, go in and out of,” Henning said of what he’s heard about his game. “Just reading defenses from the line of scrimmage.”
Henning did receive plenty of invitations to other college camps this summer, but wasn’t able to attend any others.
“Next summer, I’m going to do a lot with going to college camps and stuff like that,” he said.
Notre Dame is one school that’s shown some preliminary interest.
“One of the coaches sent me a camp flier, but I wasn’t able to attend the camp,” he said. “It’s definitely on my list to attend their camp next summer.”
Henning added that it’s a school he’d definitely consider seriously and is excited about getting a chance to visit South Bend in the future.
“Just seeing the campus,” he said of what he’d like to do when he visits. “I really like the way they’re coached and the offense they run. I like watching their games on Saturdays.
“I want to see the facility, definitely. I want to see the weight room, all of the fields and stuff like that.”
Again, it’s very early in the process, but Henning has an idea of what he’ll be looking for in a school when it comes time to choose one.
“I think it’ll definitely come down to a place I feel comfortable and a place I could fit in most with their offense and a place I could call home.”